Saudi Arabia: limited resumption of the small Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca

Since Sunday morning, October 4, the small pilgrimage of Muslims, Umrah, has resumed.

AFP

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Since Sunday morning, the small pilgrimage of Muslims, Umrah, has resumed.

This limited recovery is part of a gradual plan announced on September 29 by the Saudi authorities.

Strict sanitary conditions have been put in place to guarantee the safety of pilgrims. 

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With our correspondent in the region

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After a seven-month hiatus, the first pilgrims were able to walk again around the Kaaba, the holiest place in Islam located in the heart of the Great Mosque of Mecca. 

Since Sunday, 6,000 Saudis and foreign residents of the Kingdom have been authorized daily to make the small pilgrimage.

Wearing a mask is compulsory and the faithful must respect social distancing.

Specially recruited caregivers ensure that these conditions are respected.

The 6,000 faithful will be divided into 12 groups to allow fluidity of movement and ensure respect for physical distancing during convolutions around the Kaaba, Hajj Minister Mohammed Benten explained last week on Saudi television.

The return of foreign pilgrims from November 1 

The return of the pilgrims to Mecca is part of a plan announced on September 29 by the Saudi authorities.

The second phase of it will begin in October.

Fifteen thousand pilgrims and 40,000 faithful will be able to visit the Great Mosque every day, ie 75% of its total capacity. 

The faithful from foreign countries, selected by the Saudi authorities, will be allowed to make the small pilgrimage from November 1.

All candidates must first register on a dedicated application.

The countries of origin of the foreign pilgrims will be selected by the Ministry of Health on the basis of the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Saudi Arabia, more than 330,000 cases as well as 4,850 deaths linked to the coronavirus have been recorded.

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• Saudi Arabia

• Religion

• Coronavirus

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